August 22, 2012

Guidelines for the Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance [PREP] program, as well as funding allocations, have been released by the Department of Community and Economic Development.
"Funding for economic development programs for PREP came in the same as last year, $11.8 million," said Eric Bridges, executive director of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission. "Guidance from DCED indicates that each individual PREP region will be getting the same amount that they did last year."

August 22, 2012

MARIENVILLE â€“ An early-morning attack Wednesday, Aug. 22, in a prison cell at the State Correctional Institution in Forest County resulted in the death of a 63-year-old inmate.
According to reports, Elwood Braswell, a 26-year-old inmate, assaulted another inmate, 63-year-old Frederick Kirkland, beginning at approximately 1:40 a.m. in a cell located at SCI Forest.

August 22, 2012

EMPORIUM â€“ As the manhunt continues for fugitive Thomas Smith, 58, of Emporium, wanted in connection with the Aug. 8 attempted abduction of an Emporium bank employee at gunpoint, Emporium-based newspaper The Cameron County Echo received what is allegedly a letter written by Smith himself.
According to the Echo, the letter, dated Aug. 17, 2012, was dropped off at the paper's Broad Street office and reportedly contained a different version of the events of Aug. 8 than those put forth in news and police reports.

August 22, 2012

JOHNSONBURG â€“Â Elk County was burned with another arson case after an early-morning fire torched a residence owned by Albert Lee Abplanalp, age 59, at 208 Church St. in Johnsonburg.
The initial call was placed at 12:58 a.m. as a fire destroyed a single-stall garage, four residential structures, and a vehicle. The residence at 208 Church St. sustained the most damage, as the fire originated in a detached single-stall garage at the property and spread to the main residence situated only a few feet away.

August 22, 2012

Area youth had a chance to spend time in nature and improve their artistic skills with the "Walk, Talk & Print" program offered by ECCOTA over the past few weeks.
Area students from fourth through eighth grade took to the outdoors around the Rails to Trails and Sandy Beach areas in the morning with Lora Zill. Zill teaches writing and critical analysis at Gannon University, and is also a teaching artist with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. She is also a faculty member in a program for gifted public school students at Allegheny College.